Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival

The Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival (CIRSF) is an annual film festival dedicated exclusively to short films, typically under 30 minutes in length. Founded in the early 2000s and organized by Project Chicago, NFP, the festival screens a wide range of genres—narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, music video, and more—from independent filmmakers around the world. Screenings are held in Chicago-area cinemas and often include Q&As, awards, and networking opportunities. While not specifically a high school event, motivated high school filmmakers can submit their work as long as they meet the festival’s general submission rules (such as runtime, format, and content guidelines). Participation can offer valuable exposure, a professional festival credit, and the chance to see your work in a real theater alongside other independent films. It can also strengthen college applications and portfolios for students interested in film and media. Submission is usually handled via common festival platforms like FilmFreeway, and there is typically a submission fee, so students should review the current year’s guidelines, deadlines, and costs on the official festival pages.